Ping to a computer fails because echo request option is disabled

When troubleshooting a computer's network connectivity it is useful to ping the computer for a response. By default the ability for a computer to reply to a ping is disabled.

This article explains how to allow echo requests from the ping tool through the Windows firewall.

Applies to the following Sophos product(s) and version(s)

Not product specific

What To Do

Watch the video below to see how your can allow echo requests from the ping tool through the Windows firewall. The video shows how to do this locally on one computer (Windows 7) and with a new Group Policy Object (GPO) on a Windows 2008 R2 domain controller.

Note: The process involves enabling the 'File and Printer Sharing (Echo Request - ICMPv4-In)' option on the client or configuring the 'Windows Firewall: Allow ICMP exceptions' in a GPO.

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